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It's that time of year again! The time when children dress
up in their spookiest attire, parents sigh and shuffle along with their little
hell-beasts as they collect candy, and every channel on TV plays the most
terrifyingly edited horror movies they can get their hands on. That's right,
it's Halloween, probably the best holiday of the entire year, but not everyone
shares its dreams of candy corn and mischievous fun. When you're stuck working
all night, dressing ill-fitting costumes on late-coming merry-makers, you'd be
sore on the whole prospect too. Such is the new one-shot HALLOWEEN EVE (out now
from Image Comics), about a girl, a costume shop, and the true spirit of
Halloween.
Our tale of holiday cheer begins with a girl named Eve, a sour bite of a lady who works day in and day out in her town’s local party/costume shop. While making costumes any other day of the year already puts her in a bad mood, that particular day just happens to be Halloween Eve and the store has decided to stay open late. After hours of dealing with inept customers and irritating co-workers, her bad luck keeps running strong as she’s forced to stay after close and clean up by herself. It is here, in her lowest of low moods, she decides to throw on a witch’s outfit to vent some steam. Suddenly, the store comes to life! Masks begin to talk, mannequins dress themselves, and the spirit of Satan himself shows up! Before she knows it, Eve is thrown from her own world to one beyond the mirror; a world of ghosts and costumes, knights and pumpkins, where Halloween never ends and where she must now learn the truth about the strange holiday.
A playful twist on classic fairy tales, HALLOWEEN EVE is a fun read for the kid and adult in all of us. It takes on the time-honored premise of a surly protagonist who hates everything fun, but with a dash of magic and whimsy, learns to open up and let in those around them. Author Brandon Montclare does a great job of conveying those feelings on paper, leaving the reader simply feeling good. Not to be outdone though, Amy Reeder’s art is a fantastic companion, with excellent detail and facial expressions that show every emotion and laugh that flicker across the characters’ faces. Really, this comic is just a great read all around. HALLOWEEN EVE has potential to be an annual treat for you and yours.
All contents © 2011 Fangoria Entertainment